Tom Holland's Spider-Man tattoo forced VFX rework on 'Brand New Day'
Synopsis
Tom Holland's Spider-Man foot tattoo survived wire removal, lighting fixes, and every other VFX pass — until someone noticed it in the final cut of a naked upside-down scene. The fix required a dedicated paint-out, making it one of Marvel's more unusual post-production detours. Holland shared the story at the 'Brand New Day' global fan event in Amsterdam.
Key Takeaways
Tom Holland has a Spider-Man emblem tattoo on the sole of his foot, inked during his first film in the role.
The tattoo appeared in a completed scene in 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' where Holland hangs upside down, unclothed, off a building.
The VFX team had to digitally remove the tattoo after it was spotted during a review of the finished film.
Holland revealed the story at the film's global fan event at the STRAAT Museum, Amsterdam .
The film also stars Zendaya as MJ; Holland said their real-life marriage made difficult on-set creative conversations possible. 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' is set in a world with no memory of Spider-Man, following the events of 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' (2021) .
Hollywood actor Tom Holland revealed that a personal tattoo — the Spider-Man emblem inked on the sole of his foot — triggered an unexpected continuity crisis during post-production on 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day', forcing the visual effects team to digitally erase it from a completed scene.
The Tattoo That Caused a VFX Headache
The 30-year-old actor disclosed the anecdote while speaking to influencer Taya Miller at the film's global fan event held at the STRAAT Museum in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Holland explained that the tattoo, which replicates the Spider-Man logo from his first outing in the role, covers the entire underside of his foot.
The problem surfaced during a scene in which his character hangs upside down, unclothed, off the side of a building — a shot that inadvertently put the tattoo squarely in frame. 'I have a tattoo, and a fun little story is that it's on the bottom of my foot, it's the Spider-Man emblem from the first movie,' Holland said. 'There's a scene in the movie where I have no clothes on, and I'm hanging off the side of a building. It was very awkward to film.'
The oversight was only caught deep into post-production. 'In the VFX meetings, everyone was like, 'Yeah, the wires are gone, looks great'. But you could still see the tattoo on the bottom of my foot,' Holland recounted. 'There was a time when they were looking at the finished movie, and it was like, 'No, no, no, we need to paint that out'.' The team has since removed it digitally.
What 'Brand New Day' Is About
'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' picks up in a world that has no memory of Spider-Man's existence, following the reality-altering events of 2021's 'Spider-Man: No Way Home'. Holland returns alongside his real-life wife, Zendaya, 29, who reprises her role as MJ.
Holland and Zendaya: How Their Bond Shaped the Film
Holland told 'Empire' magazine earlier this month that his off-screen relationship with Zendaya directly influenced how the pair navigated challenging scenes on set. 'There's a very important scene in the film where we were shooting it and I kind of looked across to Zendaya and was like, 'Do you think this scene is working?' She kind of looked back at me and was like, 'I don't',' he recalled.
Holland added that the candour would have been unthinkable with any other co-star. 'If I didn't have the relationship with Zendaya that I have, I would never dream of saying to an actress after her close-up, 'Do you think this is working?'' Zendaya, for her part, said the exchange illustrated how far both actors have grown since they first appeared together in 2017's 'Spider-Man: Homecoming'.
What to Expect
With production wrapped and the VFX corrections in place, 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' is shaping up as one of Marvel's most anticipated releases — and, behind the scenes, one of its more unusual post-production stories.
Point of View
But it points to a broader truth about modern blockbuster production: VFX pipelines are so focused on removing rigs and compositing environments that something as simple as a sole-of-foot tattoo can slip through multiple review stages. More substantively, Holland's candid remarks about creative disagreements with Zendaya suggest a degree of on-set creative authority that younger leads rarely exercise — a dynamic worth watching as Marvel navigates the post-Endgame era with a new generation at the centre.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tom Holland's Spider-Man tattoo?
Tom Holland has the Spider-Man emblem tattooed across the sole of his foot, a tribute to his first film in the role. The tattoo became a post-production problem when it appeared visibly in a scene in 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day'.
How did the tattoo cause a problem on 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day'?
In a scene where Holland's character hangs upside down unclothed off a building, the tattoo on the bottom of his foot was clearly visible on screen. The VFX team discovered it during a review of the finished film and had to digitally paint it out.
What is 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' about?
'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' is set in a world where no one remembers Spider-Man's existence, following the reality-altering events of 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' (2021). Tom Holland and Zendaya both return to their roles.
Where did Tom Holland reveal the tattoo story?
Holland shared the anecdote with influencer Taya Miller at the film's global fan event held at the STRAAT Museum in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
How has Tom Holland and Zendaya's relationship influenced the film?
Holland told 'Empire' magazine that being married to Zendaya gave him the confidence to openly question whether scenes were working during filming — a level of candour he said he would not have with any other co-star. Both actors have credited their bond as a creative asset on set.
